Abstract
Large numbers of T lymphocytes were successfully cultured for use in adoptive immunotherapy using immobilized anti-CD3 antibody. This method allows more than 1.5 × 1010 T lymphocytes to be cultured within 2 weeks from only 20 ml of blood. Proliferated T lymphocytes were less cytotoxic than lymphokine-activated killer cells induced with a high dose of interleukin-2, but were more specific for autologous tumor cells as determined by cold target competition. Signal transduction of anti-CD3 antibody induced a population of CD8 positive cells, i.e. cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Adoptive immunotherapy using autologous lymphocytes requires a sufficient number of lymphocytes and high induced cytotoxic activity. This method is promising for clinical adoptive immunotherapy of patients with brain tumors.
